All posts filed under: Worship

My “God-Spot” for Day 30 of Writing for 31 Days is my dear friend Betsy Tacchella. Betsy and I are of the same generation and sisters in Christ. She is a wonderful speaker, mentor, author and an inspiration to so many. She recently published her second book, “Speak to Me, Lord, I’m Listening.” It is a wonderful collection of biblical examples of God speaking a rhema word as well as Betsy’s stories of hearing God’s voice in her own life. Here, she answers my questions and shares an excerpt from her book. To read more posts from my 31 days of blogging, click on the button above. 1. What is your desire in writing this book? My desire in writing “Speak to Me, Lord, I’m Listening,” is to raise the reader’s awareness that God still speaks to us today just as He did throughout the Bible. Through more than fifty stories, you will recognize that you, too, have heard God’s voice of encouragement, comfort and direction. Have you ever had a Bible verse seem to pop off the …

One of my favorite authors is Madeleine L’Engle. I enjoyed sharing “A Wrinkle in Time” and her other fantasies with my children, but I especially love her non-fiction. Recently, while reading in “A Circle of Quiet” (Book One of The Crosswick Journals), I found mention of the Italian composer Palestrina. Naturally, I was curious, so I found performances of his Masses on YouTube. Most are very lengthy, but I’ve left one for you at the end of this post sung by The Choir of Kings College at Cambridge. It’s followed up with something in an entirely different vein that I found a couple of years ago that I absolutely love. I think you will, too. It is my prayer that you will find yourself in a worshipful attitude while listening to both. Before I leave, I want to offer a copy of L’Engle’s “A Circle of Quiet” to the first person making a request in the comments. I have two copies and I’m paying it forward with the one in the best condition. Madeleine is a …

My “Things To Do” list for this week is long, and there’s some important stuff on there. But this morning, my head is filled with another list that speaks to me of Eternity. We’re stepping into that painful climb to Gilgotha. It’s the Holy Week. Christ has been heralded as King. Soon He’ll be tortured as blasphemer. Every Lenten season, in this year more than most, I am walking with those women, following Christ’s trail of blood. I want one last chance to kneel at His feet, to hear His words, to look in His eyes and celebrate what I behold — God. Bible open on my bed, I know I have that chance. More than one, many every day. I can read His words and roll them around on my tongue. I can bring that list of ways I want to know Him more, questions I want to ask, thoughts I’d like to explore. And I can spread my list before Him and point, saying “What about this?” and “Please, show me that.” I …

One year it was chocolate. Another, caffeine. A couple of times, it was television. And growing up as a good Catholic girl, it was always meat on Fridays. What did you give up for Lent? Perhaps the better question is “What will you GIVE?” It’s the first Sunday after Ash Wednesday — the first Sunday of Lent — and we’re sitting in an old brick church in downtown Nashville, Tennessee with two of our sons who now call this city home. Surrounded by folks who mostly exhibit a bent toward the “artistic”, it’s obvious we’re from out-of-town. But the warm handshakes and familiar worship music remind us that we’re all “the church”, whatever our roots. Worship ends and a young woman with purple hair takes the microphone to share with us her recent experience as a missionary at Rapha House in Saigon where children are rescued from sex trafficking. A beautician by trade, she is passionate about the work being done there and says she didn’t want to leave. She hopes to go back. We …

Theologian and philosopher Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously said “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Bonhoeffer was referring to Christ’s call to a surrendered life…..to a life given over to following Him. But can’t we also know that the call will come while we are on the path….while we follow, head down, feet to the ground, intent on the journey. And the call may be only this: Come. Rest.” When He calls, do we turn from those things we THINK He has already called us to do? That list of “To Do”, the good endeavor, the friend in need, the task laid out. Do we turn from them and turn to Him and say “Yes”? So the question is not “What is God calling you TO DO?” Rather, “What is He calling you TO?” To what is He drawing you? And to what must you die so that you may answer “Yes!” He calls me to rest, and I must die to self when my satisfaction comes in productivity, in crossing tasks off that list. …

My friend sat at her daughter’s bedside, holding her hand, whispering prayers as the daughter lay in the Intensive Care Unit. This young, single mother had just barely survived an automobile crash. The man she hoped to build a life with did not. Healing — of heart and body — have taken many prayers. For my friend, for her daughter and for the family of that young man. Ten months ago tomorrow, this same friend sat at my bedside, holding my hand, offering prayers as I awaited surgery to remove a cancerous lump from my breast. Physical healing began that day, as doctors used skill to carve out the fast-growing tumor, to dislodge a lymph node. With the news that the cancer had not spread, that nothing had been left behind, I whispered thanksgiving. A plan was made for radiation, medication, therapy, lifestyle adjustments……and the healing continues. I leaned heavily on my Lord and Savior in the days and weeks that followed — lean on Him still — asking Him to help me understand and …

A cloud sits on the mountain directly before me, hiding it from view. I’ve watched those clouds and mist hover and lift each morning this week as I’ve taken time to be with the Lord and to share with you reflections on this journey. Soon, the clouds will lift and at the very top of the mountain I’ll spy one lone tree, standing separate from the others. I count on that tree to be there, proof that with determination and the right growing conditions, even one lone tree can flourish. It’s like that with these boys and girls sheltered by Forgotten Children Ministries. As we learn snippets of their stories, it tears at the heart to know what they’ve experienced, where they’ve been, what they’ve seen. Most were alone, on the streets, doing whatever it took to survive. Some were in families too large to care for them, so they had to find a way to make it on their own. But here, at FCM, they are learning to stand. Not just to survive, but …

“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 God has His hands all over this mission to Honduras, and no truer evidence of His sovereignty could be seen than in the corrections He made in our plans on Wednesday evening. After a long day of ministering to families on the hillsides, disabled children in the city and the boys at the farm, our team was looking forward to worshiping in the church at Monte Redondo last evening. Stan Nowell, founder of this ministry, returned from the U.S. to Tegucigalpa earlier in the afternoon and he was to deliver the message. Pastor Rudolpho would lead us in lively worship. We were excited. Just a mile or so out of the city, our bus began making funny noises. Don’t ask me what happened; I just know it didn’t sound good. Our very capable bus driver, Marco Tulio, was dressed in his best white shirt …

It is Wednesday afternoon and I should be at Finca Grace, playing games with the boys. But Chase has caught a bug and I feel my place is here, with the son who traveled all these miles to play with Honduran boys and girls. While he rests, I retreat to the rooftop for fresh air, to think and to pray. I am greeted as I mount the last marble step by two pairs of brown eyes. One, with mop in hand, says “Hello!” and gives me a hug. The boys crowd near me as I pull out my computer and show them photos I have taken of all of them. Little Anderson steps away, whistles, and calls the tall one (his name is Carlos, but he tells me it’s “Charlie”) back to work. It’s then I am struck by the fact the little boys are cleaning up after us! We ate lunch here two hours ago, and the little boys have wiped down our tables and are mopping the floor. Of course, I am a …

Today’s reflection comes from the heart of Madonna Snyder, a pastor at our church and a dear friend. This is her first mission trip to Honduras: Again today we made our way to the school soccer field to set up and cook for hundreds of people. I thought the crowd was much bigger than yesterday, but yesterday I was helping serve the drink so my head had been down most of the time. I purposely chose a different job today in order to see the faces and make eye contact and be able to give a smile to those going through for the food we gladly give away. Most of the faces were strangers to me but there were two women who seemed like old friends, Maria Elena and Candida. I met these two neighbors only yesterday when the group I was in made our way to each of their homes to invite them to yesterday’s meal. We were welcomed in with great hospitality and warmth and there was a genuine joy they showed us …